| April 6, 2020 Dear Hathaway Brown Community,  While we were unable to reconvene in person after Spring Break, it was nonetheless quite an eventful week for Hathaway Brown. Our #HBatHome remote learning program is off and launched, and as this graphic compiled by our IT department indicates, connections among community members have abounded. So much of the magic of the HB experience is found in the mutual respect and genuine care between our faculty members and students, and those bonds have been evident throughout the week across all school divisions. HB teachers have created innovative lesson plans to keep students engaged and active, and they’re infusing their interactions with the trademark HB style: outstanding academics delivered by the kindest and most caring professionals around. I have been incredibly impressed by the creativity and flexibility our entire school community has displayed under these circumstances. The transition to remote learning has been handled by our faculty, students, and families with poise and grace, but we know it has not always been easy. We’ll continue to make adjustments and finetune our approach and we appreciate your feedback and patience as we refine the logistical aspects of this new system. Specifically, we’re interested in our community members’ thoughts on the four characteristics of #HBatHome described below, and we’ll be reaching out to you more formally this week to gather your perspective. - Connection: Does your child feel connected to her teachers? Does she feel she can access resources?
- Consistency: Does your child feel she has an effective routine?
- Capacity: Is there too much work or too little? Too much screen time or too little?
- Credibility: Is the work appropriately challenging, given the circumstances?
School division directors are meeting with parents via Zoom webinar to talk about their divisional philosophies and approaches to remote learning. Upper School Director Hallie Ritzman spoke with parents of students in grades 9-12 last evening. You can find a recording of that meeting here. Middle School Director Sharon Baker will welcome parents of students in grades 5-8 to a discussion tonight at 5 p.m. here, Primary School Director Kelly Stepnowsky will gather with parents of students in grades K-4 at 8 p.m. this evening here; and Early Childhood Director Kristin Kuhn will meet with parents of our youngest students online tomorrow at 8 p.m. here. Perhaps more important than developing the technical aspects of this approach, our team has spent a lot of time thinking about the non-negotiables of the HB experience. Our signature Learn for Life model of education is defined by its distinguished academics, empowered students, immersive opportunities, and a powerful community network. Although some things have had to be reframed, these characteristics remain consistent in this remote learning environment, and their importance is perhaps even more profoundly underscored today. Going forward, we’re committed to emphasizing all the things that make HB, HB—whether we’re together on campus or connected through #HBatHome. With Governor DeWine’s extension of the Ohio stay-at-home order and in keeping with public health directives, we’re also thoughtfully planning ways to continually underscore the community aspects that are highlights of the spring term, assuming that many of our events will have to be reimagined. It’s been especially inspiring to see all the creativity and fortitude displayed by the members of our Class of 2020, who have handled these unprecedented circumstances admirably. They’re working with faculty and administrators to come up with exciting new spins on our HB traditions and I look forward to soon sharing details about not only these senior class events, but also several other virtual community gatherings as well. Our focus on the whole child includes not only nurturing the social-emotional development of our students (you can find a variety of timely related resources here), but also on caring for their bodies. Physical education coursework is continuing and we’re encouraging students to stay active, exercise, and get outside when they can. We’re also pleased to launch a new video series, “#HBatHome with Chef Nick Keck,” with recipes, tips, tricks, advice, and facts about nutrition delivered in a fun and informative way by our very own Dining Services director. You can find the first installment of the series here. Now’s the perfect time to follow HB’s social media channels of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, where we’re sharing fresh #HBatHome content every day. And watch for the unveiling of an all new state-of-the-art HB.edu this week. At this point, the construction that we announced earlier this year is still set to take place in our Classic Building this spring, and some of the preliminary work has already begun. We are all looking forward to the great new horizons ahead for HB and I’m grateful to be on this journey with you. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at any time with any questions or concerns. Fondly, Fran Bisselle
Head of School 
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